3 Theory of Verbal Communication

It has been suggested that since verbal communication (i.e., using human language to represent the world and pass on information) can be seen as a subsystem of a larger system of human communication, it therefore exhibits all features of an open communication system (cf. Katz and Kahn 1966). The following characteristics provide an insight into the nature of ́the speechmaking system ́ from this perspective (cf. Ross 1989): a) importation of energy from outside the system is achieved esp. through the goal (intention, purpose) of communication which provide the system with ́energy ́, b) throughput means that verbal communication proceeds through coordinated activity of various subsystems involved (conceptualization, verbalization, articulation, perception, interpretation, etc.), c) output is manifested by, e.g., achievement of an intended goal, d) systems as cycles of events – verbal communication is a continuous process as it involves recurring patterns of activities, e) entropy is a tendency towards degeneration of order existing within systems (e.g., when the perspective of a communicative goal is lost, verbal communication may easily lead to a breakdown), f) steady state and dynamic homeostasis represents an effort which, contrary to entropy, attempts to preserve balance within the language system and integrity of the communication process as well as to avoid communication failure, g) negative feedback means that partners reciprocally monitor their reactions and accordingly adjust their communicative behaviour, h) differentiation stands for the development and refinement of various components (e.g., skills) during the process of continuous communication, i) equifinality similar communicative effects can be arrived at in different ways. It is especially this feature which, by stressing the presence of an amount of latitude (optionality) in achieving communicative goals, is of direct relevance to the study of style. Verbal communication is, however, characterized by some unique features which radically set it apart from other types of communication (e.g., in technical systems or among animals): a) its principal function is to transfer information which, besides being factual (i.e., what happened where to whom in what circumstances), may also be of a specific human character (e.g., whether an individual is taken as a valued, respected or ignored member of a speech community) and may also convey emotions, attitudes, beliefs, hopes, desires, etc., b) human language makes predominant use of symbolic signs (symbols) which bear arbitrary relationships to their referents, although iconic and indexical (symptoms) signs and signals are employed as well (see 11.2), c) it takes place in social environments which define particular communicative situations their relevant features have limiting effects on all aspects of communicative events (and, conversely, communication in progress itself co-builds context in which it takes place).